New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-31
knowledge and their own ignorance could not fail


to engender.
One of the most interesting personal sketches IN
the last nstalment Of the journal 10 that CT the
Princess Lieven. whose name figures so often In
scores of memoirs aud DIARIES OF the last two gener-
atoms Mr.. Grevle made her acquaintance while
he was q young man, and there Is nasty and
unouprecistiye account of her IN his first volume.
He knew her better In msturer years; he became
one of her chief friends and correspondents. and
the sketch to which We refer was written on her
death in 1857. She was tho wife of the Russian
Ambassador sent to England on the breaking out
of the war between France and Russia Ia 1872. and
she remained with her husband In England until
be WAS recalled in 1884. Then she had position at
the Russian Courtj but she had lived too long
abroad to be contented in her native country. and
after a visit to Ita.y, where her husband died. she
settled herself IN Paris. The revolution of 1S4S
drove her TO England; the Empire recalled her to
France; and there, except for period of exile to
Brussels during the Crimean War; she spent the
rest of her busy life. She kept the Russian I'M
perial family supplied with copious letters of po-
ltical and social gossip and 1t was understood that
through her they were always perfectly Informed
of the currents Of opinion. and often of the secret
courses of affairs in the French and English CAPT
tails There WAS some prejudice against her In Eng
land as an ntriguer, If not a paid agent Of the
Russian Government; hut Mr. Greyille believes
that this feeling was entirely unjust England was
the country to which she was most strongly at
tocbed by ties Of affection and habit and on ac-
count of this preference she was rather In dsfavor
at her own court. When ale first arrived In Eng
land she was not beautiful. but young. lively, in
telligeut ssing full Of TACT wellbred and
90 attractive tina; half the leaders OF the great
world were at her feet She promptly took her
place in the highest society, formed close intima-
cies With the women and made the most agreeable
and adroit use of the men. The Regent afterward
George w.. delighted 10 her companyj and al
thouah she was generally particular about her as
sociates she was on close terms with Lady ConyDg-
ham-for she mado great allowances tor royalty
and everybody connected with 1t. ut was her
dotv as well as her inclination to cultivate the
members of all the successive Cabinets which
passed before her, and she became the FREUD OF
ord Castlerea gh of Canning the Duke o. Yelling
ton Lord Grey, Lord Palmcrston. John Russell.
Aberdeen and many Others of inferior note, and
she was likewise one OF the hdbitaes OF holland
House. which always more or less neutral
Oround. even when Lord Holland VAS himself a
member Of the Government" When Talleyrand
was in London there was at frat some rivalry be
tween the French and Russian embassies. but 1t
ended in a warm friendship. Madame de Llevcn's
lest friend in England was Lady Palmerston. She
was not highly eiucated but she had great art IN
or repairing her defects she was charm
ing IN conversation. graceful ana easy in society,"
wise IN her choice of acquaintances and amazingly
clever in turning everybody t, account In faris
she formed an intimacy with Guizot;
Their Haison which some people consider mystcri-
ous out which believe 10 have been entirely so
cial and itical. grew Instantly more close aud
every moment that OuIZOt could snatc from the For
eign Office anu the Chamber no devoted to Madame
de- Lieveu. tie used TO 90 there regularly three
when II was Ting aud in the evening; bat while
he vas BY far her first object, she cultivated the
society OF all the most conspicuous and remarkable
people whom she could collect aDodt her. ana she
W - Mt one time very intimate with Theirs, Though
bis rivalry with Gulzot, ahd their intense hatred of
each other eventually proiuceI complete esti range
Inrnt lei wecn her and Theirs.
If the Princess Lievon had talent for friendship
il may be said. with no invidious after-thought.
that she had special taient tor friendships with
statesmen. To follow tram Of politics through
all it, secret courses lad for her M irresistible
fascmation and IL is no proof Of lEsGcer lty that
she attached herself most strongly to those who |
gralifed her ruling passion. Guizot on his part |
was naturally attracted by superior woman who |
coull interest herself in tho large Affairs lie was
called n2ou TO manage and conld sympathize with |
bis greatest purposes. few hours before she died
she wrote him n message in pencil; Merci Four |
vingt anuces damitie ct de bonheur. Ne,moubhcz
pas adieu. adicu"
Mr. Greville brought his journal TO an end some
-ears before his death. Many OF his old fricuds had
passed away new leaders were coming npon the |
'cene Of affairs, indrmty pressed upon him; and |
,p fis last page lie writes, dospOndenhy: have !
ong seen that il Is useless to attempt TO carry IL
on for IN entirely ont of the way of hearing any
thing of tho slightest interest beyond what is I
known 10 all The world | therefore close this |
record with great regret that did not make |
better use of the opportunities have had of record
ing something more worth reading" That is an |
Did mans melancholy Interpretation Of IL work !
which is sure to be read with interest and instruc-
ton for many years 10 come